Porto vs Rangers predictions and betting tips – Rohl’s men playing for pride

Rangers were victorious on matchday seven of the Europa League league phase, but it was a case of too little, too late. Regardless of what happens on Thursday night, Rangers will exit the competition.

Porto are pushing for a top-eight finish, with a victory here likely to be enough to get them over the line.

• Porto with a -1.5 handicap – 10/11 with Tote
• Porto to score in both halves – 21/20 with BetVictor
• Samu Aghehowa to score any time – 5/6 with SBK

Porto vs Rangers odds

Find the latest Porto vs Rangers betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Porto vs Rangers predictions

After winning only one of their first eight games of the Scottish Premiership season, no one at Ibrox was thinking about the title.

The situation back then looked pretty bleak for Rangers, whose fans were concerned they might miss out on the top three, never mind the league championship.

Fast forward a few months and the mood in the blue half of Glasgow is considerably brighter. After a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dundee at the weekend, Rangers moved within four points of Heart of Midlothian in top spot.

They have also overtaken Celtic, who could only manage a 2-2 draw with Hearts in Sunday’s blockbuster clash in Scotland.

Rangers are in fantastic form in the Premiership, having won six matches in a row as well as eight of the last nine.

Yet even though their revival under Danny Rohl has been impressive on the domestic front, Rangers have continued to struggle on the continental stage.

Indeed, despite a 1-0 defeat of Ludogorets Razgrad last week, Rangers have already been eliminated from the Europa League.

Even a play-off place is out of reach for Rohl’s men heading into matchday eight, with this set to be Rangers’s last game in Europe until next season at the earliest.

That is good news for Porto, who will be glad to be facing a team with nothing to play for on Thursday night.

The Portuguese giants almost certainly need to win this match to secure a top-eight finish and a direct passage to the round of 16.

Porto, who are currently ninth, are not guaranteed to climb up a place or more with a victory, but in all likelihood that would be enough to get them over the line.

Porto are flying in Portugal. They have won 19 and drawn one of their 20 matches in the Primeira Liga, an extraordinary effort that has put them in pole position to win the title.

Their manager Francesco Farioli is one to watch. Still only 36 years old, he is bound to be on the shortlist for a number of big jobs across Europe this summer.

For now, he will be focused on winning as much silverware as possible with Porto, who are among the favourites to go all the way in the Europa League.

Porto vs Rangers betting tips

Rangers will bow out of the Europa League away to Porto on Thursday evening.

Porto to triumph

It is difficult to know how Rohl will play this. He could opt to shuffle his pack and name a second-string XI to keep key men fresh for this weekend’s trip to Hibernian, which looks like a potential banana skin in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Alternatively, Rohl could name a strong line-up here with the aim of keeping Rangers’ momentum going, albeit in the knowledge that this will be a tough game either way.

For all that Rangers have made huge steps forward in recent months, they are not currently in the same class as this Porto team.

Combine that with the fact that the hosts need to win this match to finish in the top eight and it is hard to look past Porto. 

Against a Rangers side whose hearts might not be in this game, Farioli’s charges can win by two goals or more.

Choose Porto with a -1.5 handicap at 10/11 with Tote

Rangers second best?

Porto are by no means over the line in the Primeira Liga title race yet, despite their magnificent record up to now.

They have not yet built up an insurmountable lead back home, but that will be the ambition in order to allow Porto to focus on the Europa League once the knockout phase comes around.

Avoiding the play-offs would be a bonus for Farioli and co., so there is little chance of Porto taking Thursday’s game lightly.

With goal difference having the potential to be a factor, the home team are incentivised to win by as wide a margin as possible here. Do not be surprised if Porto score either side of half-time.

Back Porto to score in both halves at 21/20 with BetVictor

Samu to strike

This could be a big year for Samu Aghehowa.

The striker already has 20 goals to his name this season. A strong end to 2025/26 could earn the 21-year-old a big move this summer.

Samu will also have one eye on the World Cup, where he will hope to lead the line for Spain despite only having four caps to his name so far.

In the more immediate term, the former Alaves frontman is likely to be a thorn in the side of the Rangers defence at the Estadio do Dragao this week.

Tip Samu Aghehowa to score any time at 5/6 with SBK

Porto vs Rangers predicted lineups

• Porto expected lineup: D. Costa; A. Costa, Bednarek, Kiwior, Fernandes; Froholdt, Varela, Rosario; Gomes, Samu, Sainz. 
• Rangers expected lineup: Butland; Tavernier, Dijiga, Fernandez, Meghoma; Raskin, Diomande; Aasgaard, Gassama, Moore; Chermiti.

Where to watch Porto vs Rangers

• Location: Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal.
• Date and time: Thursday 29th January, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 5.

More Europa League predictions

We have plenty more Europa League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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